Location
Lat 6° 31' 60S Long 155° 19' 0E  Mosigetta is located in southern Bougainville, inland from Empress Augusta Bay. Connected by the Mawaraka-Mosigetta Trail to Mawaraka.

Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese. During 1944, after two Japanese large scale counterattacks against the American beachhead at Torokina, the Japanese withdrew to three areas: Buka to the north, Numa Numa and Kieta in the east, and Buin-Mosigetta to the south.

Allied missions against Mosigetta
November 29, 1943–April 13, 1944

On January 25, 1945 the Australian Army "Twen Force" comprising of C and D companies of 61st Battalion, pushed inland along the Pagana River in the direction of Kupon, with the objective of securing Mosigetta and drive the Japanese from the area. Farther inland the commandos were denying the Japanese the track system running through Mosina, Nigitan, and Sisiruai. The 9th Battalion left Mawaraka next day and struck east towards Mosigetta along the south bank of the Hupai.

Within a fortnight 61st Battalion had penetrated Nigitan and Mosina, and turned south towards the 9th Battalion objective. Seven days down the track from Mosina saw the 61st poised near Mievo, a few hundred yards north of Mosigetta. Meanwhile along the Mawaraka-Mosigetta Road the going had not been easy for the 9th Battalion. Feeling a way through jungle swamps often shoulder-deep, pinned down in the mud, sleeping in water, and hampered by a supply line kept open only by the sweat of the native carriers and by the tractor towed jeep trains, they reached Mosigetta on January 16, 1945, half an hour ahead of the force moving down from Kupon.

From Toko a track ran inland a few hundred yards above the Puriata River in the direction of Darara on the No. I government road to Buin. This road was a continuation of the track south from Kupon through Mosigetta to Darara and on to the main Puriata ford. An eastward move from Toko towards Darara would close the river crossing, cutting the escape route of the Japanese retreating before the two battalions reorganizing at Mosigetta for the Darara drive. On February 25, 1945 the 9th Battalion was withdrawn to Motupena Point to rest. From Mosigetta the 61st Battalion continued to fight towards the southeast.

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022